Page 65 of My All American Girl

My heart broke for her. I knew this had been a rough night, not just for Rolley but for Sarah too.

“How bad is he hurt?” I asked quietly.

She shook her head. “They won’t tell me anything,” she whispered. “I was settled in bed when they finally brought him in here. I don’t know if he was in surgery or what.”

“Come on,” I said softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Lay down and get some rest. I’ll see if I can talk to someone and see what kind of condition he’s in.”

“Please,” she sobbed.

“What about Kylee?” I asked. “Clay?”

“Clay washed out a couple days ago,” she said.

“Kylee?” I asked, looking around the bay. I didn’t see her, but I knew she wasn’t as scrappy as Sarah. She wouldn’t fare as well.

“Kylee wasn’t hurt,” she said. “She managed to get away before things got really bad. Thankfully, they didn’t hurt her.”

I clenched my jaw. Fury rolled through me. I didn’t want to freak out, but there was going to be hell to pay. I just needed to know who to collect from.

“Sit tight,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”

I disentangled myself gently from Sarah’s firm grip, trying my best to give her a reassuring smile. She didn’t return it, but I could see a small flicker of relief in her eyes. I was here now. And I wouldn’t let anything else happen to her.

I asked one of the nurses where Rolley’s doctor was and learned he was currently in surgery. The doctor, not Rolley, gave me a moment’s relief. Rolley had at least been stabilized enough to be left alone for a while.

The nurse told me Sarah was fine. She did say she was very lucky considering what happened to her friend.

“How long does she need to stay here?” I asked.

She grimaced. “Ryker, you can’t do that.”

“Do what?” I shrugged.

“I know exactly what you’re thinking,” she said. “We were told to keep her here. They don’t want her back in the dorms. Whatever happened was bad. She can’t go back there tonight.”

I nodded. “I understand, but physically, she’s okay? Concussion? Broken bones? Anything?”

“Physically she’s fine.” She smiled. “She’s got the usual injuries from training added with what she got tonight. I imagine she’ll be sore, but she’s not in any danger.”

“Good. I’m getting her out of here. She doesn’t need to be here tonight.”

“But I don’t think you should take her.”

“Noted,” I said. “But I’m taking her.”

“If I get in trouble for this, you better believe I will throw you under the bus so fast your head will spin,” she warned.

I winked. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

I walked back to Sarah, who was sitting on her bed and staring at Rolley as if she was trying to will him awake. It was going to drive her crazy to sit around and wait for him to wake up. She was going to let the guilt eat her. I knew a little something about what that was like.

“Let’s go,” I said.

“What?”

“I’m getting you out of here,” I told her. “Where are your shoes?”

“I don’t know.”